Discovery mechanisms for universal serial bus (USB) protocol adaptation layer

ABSTRACT

A WiFi serial bus (WSB) attribute for use in Wi-Fi Alliance defined point-to-point (P2P) discovery mechanism includes a plurality of fields disposed in the frame. The WiFi serial bus attribute is arranged to provide information in the plurality of fields to support connectivity decisions for a USB device in a point-to-point network using a WSB protocol. The WSB attribute includes WSB architectural element information and information associated with a USB device behind a USB protocol adaptation layer (PAL).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/728,820, filed Dec. 27, 2012, and published as U.S. 2014-0189172 onJul. 3, 2014, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,075,923 on Jul. 7, 2015 whichapplication and publication are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

BACKGROUND

Recently, application services of transmitting various multimedia dataat high speed have been widely used in wireless communication fields. Inaddition, the potential market for consumer electronic (CE) devices withthese services has grown. Electronic devices, such as computers andother devices, often transmit signals to receiving stations such asdisplays or speakers. Such transmission often occurs via wires orcables. However, wireless transmission offers freedom from wires andcables. For interoperability among various manufacturers' products,these devices may communicate according to a standard, such as the WiFiAlliance (WFA) and the Wireless Gigabit Alliance (WGA or WiGig) standardas described in one or more upcoming published specifications.

The Universal serial bus (USB) Protocol Adaptation Layer (PAL) is atechnology that enables support of USB traffic over a medium other thanUSB. Specifically with the WiFi Alliance, the WiFi Serial Bus (WSB)provides USB PAL as a service for WiFi links, and similarly with theWiGig Alliance, WiGig Serial Extension (WSE) provides USB PAL as aservice for WiGig links. On a wired USB, the user makes the decision ofchoosing and using a USB peripheral device by physically plugging itinto the USB port on the USB host, e.g., by connecting a USB mouse tothe PC. In contrast, when used over a wireless medium, the user needs torely on discovery mechanisms provided by lower layers, e.g., mediaaccess control (MAC) mechanisms provided in data link layer (layer 2),internet protocol (IP) mechanisms provided in network layer (layer 3),etc., to learn about USB PAL capable devices which are available forconnection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numeralsmay describe similar components in different views. Like numerals havingdifferent letter suffixes may represent different instances of similarcomponents. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, butnot by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the presentdocument.

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless system according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates the layers used to provide USB wireless connectivityaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a table showing the definitions for the WSB Attributeaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a table describing the format of the WSB Capability Bitmapfield according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a table describing the format of the USB Configuration Entryfield according to an embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a table describing the format of the Configuration fieldaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a table describing the format of the Interface List fieldaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a table describing the format of the WSB Icon field accordingto an embodiment;

FIG. 9 illustrates WSB discovery in a point-to-point (P2P) frameworkaccording to an embodiment; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of an example machine upon which anyone or more of the techniques (e.g., methodologies) discussed herein mayperform.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The Universal serial bus (USB) Protocol Adaptation Layer (PAL) is atechnology that enables support of USB traffic over a medium other thanUSB. A WiFi Serial Bus (WSB) provides USB PAL as a service for WiFilinks and a WiGig Serial Extension (WSE) provides USB PAL as a servicefor WiGig links. The WSB protocol is a USB PAL protocol for providingUSB over WiFi links. Point-to-Point (P2P) WiFi provides device-to-deviceconnectivity. WSB needs to use P2P for discovery of available WSBdevices. However, WiFi P2P does not apply to WSB. Embodiments describedherein extend the applicability of P2P to the WSB protocol.

In one embodiment, a WSB attribute is arranged to provide for discoveryof WSB enabled devices using the WiFi P2P framework. More specifically,a WSB Attribute according to an embodiment carries information for theuser to be able to make an informed connectivity decision.

FIG. 1 illustrates a wireless system 100 according to an embodiment. InFIG. 1, Universal serial bus (USB) Protocol Adaptation Layer (PAL)enables support of USB traffic over WiFi links and WiGig links.Accordingly, a first computing device 110, such as a personal computer,communicates wirelessly with wireless enabled devices within range. Forexample, the first computing device may wirelessly communicate with avideo camera 120, a media player 122, a printer 124, a media server 126,a mobile phone 128, external storage 130 and a television 132. A dockingdevice 150 is wirelessly coupled to at least the first computing device110. USB devices 154 are coupled to the docking device using USB cables152. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that this is notmeant to be an exhaustive list, but is provided only as examples ofdevices that a first computing device may communicate with. The firstdevice 110 may also communicate wirelessly with a second computingdevice 140. The second computing device 140 may wireless communicatewith at least some of the other devices 120-132. For example, the secondcomputer device 140 may share the printer 124 with the first computingdevice, and therefore communicate wirelessly with the printer 124.

On a wired USB, the user makes the decision of choosing and using a USBperipheral device by physically plugging it into the USB port on the USBhost, e.g., by connecting a USB mouse to the personal computer (PC). Incontrast, when used over a wireless medium, the user needs to rely on adiscovery mechanisms provided by lower layers, e.g., MAC, IP, etc., tolearn about USB PAL capable devices which are available for connection.While WiFi links may be used by P2P for device-to-device connectivity,available WSB capable devices may be discovered through the use of P2P.To extend the applicability of P2P to the WSB protocol, the WSBaccording to an embodiment provides for the discovery of WSB enableddevices using the WiFi P2P framework by carrying information for theuser to be able to make an informed connectivity decision.

FIG. 2 illustrates the layers 200 used to provide USB wirelessconnectivity according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 shows a USB protocoladaptation layer (PAL) 210, the logic link control (LLC) 220, the mediaaccess (MAC) layer 230 and the physical (PHY) layer 240. The logic linkcontrol (LLC) 220 and MAC layer 230 form the data link layer 250. TheUSB PAL layer 210 may also sit on the network/transport layers (notshown). A device according to an embodiment passes data through the USBprotocol adaptation layer (PAL) 210 and furthermore through the logiclink control (LLC) 220 and MAC layer 230. The MAC layer 230 transmitsthe data through the PHY layer 240 in the assigned radio frequencyspectrum. The USB PAL 210 is used to enable communication through a USBapplication layer 202 for use with other forms of MACs for otherphysical media such as USB cabling. The USB PAL 210 packages data andinstructions from the USB application layer 202 to conform to theprotocol used by the MAC layer 230.

FIG. 3 is a table showing the definitions for the WSB Attribute 300according to an embodiment. The WSB Attribute 300 includes fields forinformation about the WSB device as well as identifying the USB devicebehind the PAL. The USB device behind the PAL may be a real USB deviceor a software emulation of a non-USB interface appearing as a USBinterface. An attribute ID field 310 has a size of 1 octet 312 andidentifies the type of P2P attribute 314. The attribute ID field 310provides a WSB support field as a signaling mechanism indicating supportof the WSB protocol by the P2P device. The length field 316 has a sizeof 2 octets 318 and specifies the length of the fields in the USBattribute 320. A USB Version field 322 has a size of 2 octets 324 andidentifies the USB specification number of which the USB device behindthe WSB PAL complies 326. More specifically, the protocol versionidentifies the version of USB which is supported by the USB devicebehind the PAL. This information assists the user with the selection toconnect to a USB device.

The USB device class and sub-class, as well as the interface class andsub-class may be used either directly by the user or indirectly afterbeing processed by the application on the device to learn about thefunctions provided by the device. For example, the USB device class andsub-class may be mapped to an icon and a user friendly description ofthe device.

The USB device class field 328 has a size of 1 octet 330 and identifiesthe USB interface (IF) device behind the WSB PAL 332. The USB deviceclass field 328 may be set to zero if the USB interface (IF) defineddevice class of the USB device is not identified. The USB Devicesub-class field 334 has a size of 1 octet 336 and identifies the USB-IFdevice sub-class of the USB device behind the WSB PAL 338. The USBDevice sub-class field 334 may be set to zero if the USB IF definedsubclass of the Device sub-class is not identified.

The WSB capability bitmap 340 has a length of 1 octet 342 and provides aset of parameters indicating P2P Device's WSB bitmap capabilities 344,as defined more specifically in FIG. 4. The WSB string field 346 has alength of 8 octets 348 and identifies a WSB friendly name 350. The WSBIcon field 352 has a variable length 354 and includes one WSB Icondepicting the WSB device in a user friendly manner 356. The format ofWSB Icon field 352 is shown in FIG. 8. The USB configuration entry listfield 358 has a variable length 360 and includes one or more USBconfiguration entities 362. The format of the configuration entry field358 is described in more detail with respect to FIG. 5.

FIG. 4 is a table describing the format of the WSB Capability Bitmapfield 400 according to an embodiment. Bits 0-2 410 provide a field toidentify the WSB version 412 of the WSB protocol supported by the P2Pdevice 414. The WSB version identifier 412 ensures devices thatestablish connection use the same version of WSB protocol. Bits 3-4 420provide architectural element information 422 by indicating the devicesrole to other devices 424. The bits 420 of the architectural elementfield 424 identify the WSB architectural element supported by the P2PDevice. A WSB device may take the role of a WSB Host 425, a WSBperipheral device 426, or a WSB hub (or dock) 427. A first value 428indicates that a WSB host is supported by the device. A second value 429indicates that a WSB hub is supported by the device. A third value 423indicates that a WSB peripheral is supported by the device. A fourthfield is reserved 421. The WSB role identifier 420 is a filed used bydevices looking for other devices performing a specific role, e.g., aWSB host 425 looking for WSB peripherals 427, to narrow down theselection. If a device supports more than one WSB role, e.g., a devicethat may take the role of either a WSB Host 425 or a WSB Hub 426, thenthe device uses two WSB attributes, one for each role. Bit 5 430 is usedas IP-support indicator 432 to communicate whether USB PAL over IP is anoption supported by the P2P device. The IP support field 432 shall beset to a first value when the P2P device supports WSB IP option, and isset to a second value otherwise 434. This information enables otherdevices supporting the IP option to establish the connection based on IPif so desired. Bit 6 440 identifies whether the device is available forconnection 442. The available for connection field may be set to a firstvalue when the P2P device is available to connect with other WSB capableP2P devices, and set to a second value otherwise 444. Bit 7 450 isreserved 452.

FIG. 5 is a table describing the format of the USB Configuration Entryfield 500 according to an embodiment. The first field 510 is 1 octet 512in length and identifies the number of configurations contained in theUSB Configuration List field 514. A second field 520 is theconfiguration list field. The length of the configuration field 520 hasa variable length 522 and includes one or more configurations 524. Theformat of the configuration list field in shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a table describing the format of the Configuration field 600according to an embodiment. The first field 610 is the number ofinterfaces field and has a length of 1 octet 612. The number ofinterfaces field indicates the number of interfaces contained in theinterfaces list field 614. The second field 620 is the interface listfield. The interface list field 620 has a variable length 622 andincludes one or more interfaces 624. The format of the interface fieldis shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a table describing the format of the Interface List field 700according to an embodiment. The USB-IF defines the device class of theUSB device behind the PAL. The USB-IF defines the device sub-class ofthe USB device behind the PAL and the interface class for functions inthe USB device behind the PAL. The USB-IF also defines the interfacesub-class for functions in the USB device behind the PAL.

The first field is the interface class field 710 and has a length of 1octet 712. The interface class field identifies the USB Interface (IF)defined interface class of the USB function exposed by the WSB PAL 714.The interface class field is set to zero if not identified. The secondfield is the interface sub-class field 720. The interface sub-classfield 720 has a length of 1 octet 722 and identifies the USB-IF definedInterface Sub-class of the USB function exposed by the WSB PAL 724. Theinterface sub-class field 720 is set to zero if not identified.

FIG. 8 is a table describing the format of the WSB Icon field 800according to an embodiment. A first field is the icon type length field810 and has a length of 1 octet 812. The icon type length fieldidentifies the length of the Icon Type field 814. A second field is theicon type field 820. The length of the icon type field is variable 822.The icon type filed 820 includes the MIME media type of the icon binarydata 824. The icon type subfield is formatted in accordance withRFC-4288 and its value is selected from registered internet assignednumbers authority (IANA) multipurpose internet mail extensions (MIME)media types. The third field is the icon binary data length field. Theicon binary data length field 830 has a length of 2 octets 832. The iconbinary data length field 830 identifies the length of the icon binarydata field 834. The fourth field is the icon binary data field 840 andhas a variable length 842. The icon binary data field 840 includes thebinary data for the icon encoded per the icon type field 844.

Thus, a WSB attribute according to an embodiment carries information tofacilitate connectivity decisions by a user. The WSB attribute iscarried in the P2P frames as discussed above. Examples of P2P framesinclude a beacon frame, a probe Request frame, a probe response frame, adirectional multi gigabit (DMG) beacon and announce frame, aninformation request frame and an information response frame.

FIG. 9 illustrates WSB discovery in a P2P framework 900 according to anembodiment. Each type of frame transmitted in a P2P framework 900 isarranged into packets. In FIG. 9, a packet 902 is shown. The packet 902includes a header 904 and a data section 906. Typically, controlinformation is found in packet headers 904 with payload data 906 inbetween the header and a trailer 908. The header 904 may also provideidentification of a destination. Wireless USB supports one-to-one linksbetween a pair of devices, or one-to-multiple-device links. In eithercase, one device assumes ownership of the connection. The device thatassumes ownership of the connection is referred to as a P2P group owner910. The other devices are referred to as P2P client devices. FIG. 9shows first and second P2P client devices. P2P client 1 920 is WSBenabled. P2P client 2 930 is WSE enabled.

The P2P group owner device 910 transmits a beacon frame 912 on theoperating channel. The beacon frame 912 is a frame transmitted by theP2P group owner 910 that carries information about the P2P group and thedevices present in the P2P group. In FIG. 9, P2P client 1 that is WSBenabled associates 940 with the P2P group owner 910. The P2P group owner910 listens for a probe request frame 950 (or association request frame)from P2P client 2 930. The probe request frame 950 is transmitted by P2Pclient 2 930 to inquire about existing P2P groups and the devicespresent. The Probe Response frame 952 is transmitted by P2P group owner910, in response to the probe request frame 950. The Probe Responseframe 952 includes information about the P2P group and the devicespresent. P2P client 2 930 may then become associated 960 with the P2Pgroup owner 910. Thereafter, the P2P group owner 910 transmits a beaconthat includes the WSB attributes of P2P client 1 920 and P2P client 2930.

A directional multi gigabit (DMG) beacon and announce frame 914 may beused to identify a P2P group operating at a frequency band higher than45 GHz. The USB attribute may also be used to specify the form of aninformation element (IE), e.g., WSB IE, to be included in the framesthat carry P2P IEs. An information request frame may be transmitted by aP2P device in a 60 GHz P2P to solicit information about other P2Pdevices that are present. The information request frame is not shown,but would appear in FIG. 9 much like probe request frame 950. Aninformation response frame is transmitted by a P2P group owner inresponse to the information request frame. The information responseframe is not shown, but would appear in FIG. 9 much like probe responseframe 952.

To connect to the P2P group, the P2P client device 1 920 and the P2Pclient device 2 930 transmit an association request frame and the P2Pgroup owner may transmit an association response frame. These frames arealso not shown, but would also appear in FIG. 9 much like probe requestframe 950 and probe response frame 952. Association allows a wirelessdevice to send information to the devices within the group. The P2Pgroup owner 910 transmits a first beacon 970 to P2P client 2 930 and asecond beacon 972 to P2P client 1 920. The first beacon 970 and secondbeacon 972 identifies the attributes for P2P client 1 920 and P2P client2 930.

FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of an example machine 1000 uponwhich any one or more of the techniques (e.g., methodologies) discussedherein may perform. In alternative embodiments, the machine 1000 mayoperate in a standalone mode or may be connected (e.g., networked) toother machines in a network mode. In a networked deployment, the machine1000 may operate in the capacity of a server machine, a client machine,or both in server-client network environments. In an example, themachine 1000 may act as a peer machine in peer-to-peer (P2P) (or otherdistributed) network environment. In another example, the machine 1000may act as a client (a station (STA)) or an access point (AP) during alink setup when domain crossing occurs.

The machine 1000 may further be a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, aset-top box (STB), a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a mobile device,a web appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machinecapable of executing instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specifyactions to be taken by that machine.

Further, while only a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine”shall also be taken to include any collection of machines thatindividually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructionsto perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein, suchas cloud computing, software as a service (SaaS), other computer clusterconfigurations. Examples, as described herein, may include, or mayoperate on, logic or a number of components, modules, or mechanisms.Modules are tangible entities (e.g., hardware) capable of performingspecified operations and may be configured or arranged in a certainmanner. In an example, circuits may be arranged (e.g., internally orwith respect to external entities such as other circuits) in a specifiedmanner as a module. In an example, the whole or part of one or morecomputer systems (e.g., a standalone, client or server computer system)or one or more hardware processors may be configured by firmware orsoftware (e.g., instructions, an application portion, or an application)as a module that operates to perform specified operations. In anexample, the software may reside on a machine readable medium. In anexample, the software, when executed by the underlying hardware of themodule, causes the hardware to perform the specified operations.

Accordingly, the term “module” is understood to encompass a tangibleentity, be that an entity that is physically constructed, specificallyconfigured (e.g., hardwired), or temporarily (e.g., transitorily)configured (e.g., programmed) to operate in a specified manner or toperform at least part of any operation described herein. Consideringexamples in which modules are temporarily configured, each of themodules need not be instantiated at any one moment in time. For example,where the modules comprise a general-purpose hardware processorconfigured using software, the general-purpose hardware processor may beconfigured as respective different modules at different times. Softwaremay accordingly configure a hardware processor, for example, toconstitute a particular module at one instance of time and to constitutea different module at a different instance of time.

Machine (e.g., computer system) 1000 may include a hardware processor1002 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit(GPU), a hardware processor core, or any combination thereof), a mainmemory 1004 and a static memory 1006, at least some of which maycommunicate with each other via an interlink (e.g., bus) 1008. Themachine 1000 may further include a display unit 1010, an alphanumericinput device 1012 (e.g., a keyboard), and a user interface (UI)navigation device 1014 (e.g., a mouse). In an example, the display unit1010, input device 1012 and UI navigation device 1014 may be a touchscreen display. The machine 1000 may additionally include a storagedevice (e.g., drive unit) 1016, a signal generation device 1018 (e.g., aspeaker), a network interface device 1020, and one or more sensors 1021,such as a global positioning system (GPS) sensor, compass,accelerometer, or other sensor. The machine 1000 may include an outputcontroller 1028, such as a serial (e.g., universal serial bus (USB),parallel, or other wired or wireless (e.g., infrared (IR)) connection tocommunicate or control one or more peripheral devices (e.g., a printer,card reader, etc.).

The signal generation device 1018 is arranged to generate a frame havinga WiFi serial bus (WSB) attribute, the WSB attribute further including aplurality of fields to provide information to support connectivitydecisions for a wireless USB device in a point-to-point network using aWSB protocol. The network interface device 1020 to transmit and receiveframes that include a WSB attribute. The processor 1002 provides controlnetwork communications and is arranged to process the plurality offields of the WSB attribute in a received frame to extract informationin the plurality of fields to support connectivity decisions for awireless USB device in a point-to-point network using a WSB protocol.

The storage device 1016 may include a non-transient computer-readablestorage medium 1022 on which is stored one or more sets of datastructures or instructions 1024 (e.g., software) embodying or utilizedby any one or more of the techniques or functions described herein. Theinstructions 1024 may also reside, completely or at least partially,within the main memory 1004, within static memory 1006, or within thehardware processor 1002 during execution thereof by the machine 1000. Inan example, one or any combination of the hardware processor 1002, themain memory 1004, the static memory 1006, or the storage device 1016 mayconstitute machine readable media.

While the machine readable medium 1022 is illustrated as a singlemedium, the term “machine readable medium” may include a single mediumor multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/orassociated caches and servers) that configured to store the one or moreinstructions 1024.

The term “machine readable medium” may include any medium that iscapable of storing, encoding, or carrying instructions for execution bythe machine 1000 and that cause the machine 1000 to perform any one ormore of the techniques of the present disclosure, or that is capable ofstoring, encoding or carrying data structures used by or associated withsuch instructions. Non-limiting machine readable medium examples mayinclude solid-state memories, and optical and magnetic media. In anexample, a massed machine readable medium comprises a machine readablemedium with a plurality of particles having resting mass. Specificexamples of massed machine readable media may include: non-volatilememory, such as semiconductor memory devices (e.g., ElectricallyProgrammable Read-Only Memory (EPROM), Electrically ErasableProgrammable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM)) and flash memory devices;magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks;magneto-optical disks; and compact disk-read only memory (CD-ROM) anddigital versatile disk-read only memory (DVD-ROM) disks.

The instructions 1024 may further be configured for transmission andreception over a communications network 1026 using a transmission mediumvia the network interface device 1020 utilizing any one of a number oftransfer protocols (e.g., frame relay, internet protocol (IP),transmission control protocol (TCP), user datagram protocol (UDP),hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP), etc.). Example communicationnetworks may include a local area network (LAN), a wide area network(WAN), a personal area network (PAN), a packet data network (e.g., theInternet), mobile telephone networks ((e.g., channel access methodsincluding Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time-division multipleaccess (TDMA), Frequency-division multiple access (FDMA), and OrthogonalFrequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) and cellular networks such asGlobal System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS), CDMA 2000 1×* standards and Long TermEvolution (LTE)), Plain Old Telephone (POTS) networks, and wireless datanetworks (e.g., Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)802 family of standards including IEEE 802.11 standards (WiFi®), IEEE802.16 standards (WiMax®) and others), peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, orother protocols now known or later developed.

For example, the network interface device 1020 may include one or morephysical jacks (e.g., Ethernet, coaxial, or phone jacks) or one or moreantennas to connect to the communications network 1026. In an example,the network interface device 1020 may include a plurality of antennas towirelessly communicate using at least one of single-inputmultiple-output (SIMO), multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), ormultiple-input single-output (MISO) techniques. The term “transmissionmedium” shall be taken to include any intangible medium that is capableof storing, encoding or carrying instructions for execution by themachine 1000, and includes digital or analog communications signals orother intangible medium to facilitate communication of such software.

The above detailed description includes references to the accompanyingdrawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawingsshow, by way of illustration, specific embodiments. These embodimentsare also referred to herein as “examples.” Such examples can includeelements in addition to those shown or described. However, the presentinventors also contemplate examples in which only those elements shownor described are provided. Moreover, the present inventors alsocontemplate examples using any combination or permutation of thoseelements shown or described (or one or more aspects thereof), eitherwith respect to a particular example (or one or more aspects thereof),or with respect to other examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shownor described herein.

In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patentdocuments, to include one or more than one, independent of any otherinstances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” In thisdocument, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that“A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unlessotherwise indicated. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and“in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respectiveterms “comprising” and “wherein.” Also, in the following claims, theterms “including” and “comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system,device, article, or process that includes elements in addition to thoselisted after such a term in a claim are still deemed to fall within thescope of that claim. Moreover, in the following claims, the terms“first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and arenot intended to impose numerical constraints on their objects.

The above description is intended to be illustrative, and notrestrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or moreaspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Otherembodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the artupon reviewing the above description. The Abstract is to allow thereader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure, forexample, to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). It is submitted with theunderstanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scopeor meaning of the claims. Also, in the above Detailed Description,various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure.This should not be interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosedfeature is essential to any claim. Rather, subject matter of embodimentsmay lie in less than the features of a particular disclosed embodiment.Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the DetailedDescription, with each claim standing on its own as a separateembodiment. The scope of the embodiments should be determined withreference to the appended claims, along with the full scope ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: memory; and processingcircuitry configured to: provide service information during Wi-Fi SerialBus (WSB) discovery, the service information including a parameter toindicate a version of the universal serial bus (USB) specificationsupported by the apparatus; wherein the apparatus is a first apparatus,and the processing circuitry is further configured to wirelesslyestablish a Wi-Fi connection to a second apparatus, based on the versionin the service information, at a link layer in a Wi-Fi Peer-to-Peer(Wi-Fi P2P) group, to establish a WSB connection over the Wi-Ficonnection; and perform USB device communications over the Wi-Ficonnection, after the WSB connection being established.
 2. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry has further logic togenerate a signal to indicate whether the apparatus supports InternetProtocol (IP) transport.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theservice information includes a user friendly description to identify theapparatus.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitryincludes logic to provide WSB architectural element service information,wherein the WSB architectural element service information indicateswhether the apparatus is a WSB Host, a WSB Hub, or a WSB Peripheral. 5.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is configuredto identify the apparatus as a P2P Group Owner.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further including a signal generation device.
 7. The apparatusof claim 1, further including a touch screen.
 8. The apparatus of claim1, further including two or more antennas.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the apparatus is configured to operate using a near fieldcommunication (NFC) protocol.
 10. A non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium that stores instructions for execution by one or moreprocessors of a Wi-Fi Serial Bus (WSB) device to perform operationscomprising: respond to a probe request frame from at least one other WSBdevice in a Wi-Fi Peer-to-Peer (Wi-Fi P2P) group; provide serviceinformation subsequently to responding to the probe request frame, theservice information including a parameter to indicate a version of theuniversal serial bus (USB) specification supported by the WSB device;establish a WSB connection with the at least one other WSB device basedon the service information; and perform USB device communications overthe Wi-Fi connection, upon the WSB connection being established.
 11. Thenon-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein theWSB device is a P2P Group Owner.
 12. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the Wi-Fi P2Pgroup operates at a frequency band higher than 45 gigahertz (GHz).
 13. AWi-Fi Serial Bus (WSB) device comprising: a network interface device, aprocessor, and a memory, the network interface device to: provideservice information during WSB discovery, the service informationincluding a parameter to indicate a version of the universal serial bus(USB) specification supported by the WSB device; wirelessly establish aWi-Fi connection to at least one other WSB device, based on the serviceinformation, at the link layer in a Wi-Fi Peer-to-Peer (Wi-Fi P2P)group, to establish a WSB connection over the Wi-Fi connection; andperform USB device communications over the Wi-Fi connection, upon theWSB connection being established.
 14. The WSB device of claim 13,wherein the service information is provided subsequently to performing aP2P probe request and P2P probe response exchange.
 15. The WSB device ofclaim 13, further comprising two or more antennas.
 16. The WSB device ofclaim 13, further comprising signal generation circuitry to generate asignal to indicate whether the WSB device supports Internet Protocol(IP) transport.
 17. The WSB device of claim 13, wherein the WSB deviceis configured to operate at frequencies greater than 45 gigahertz (GHz).